Bagerhat: Four suspected forest robbers, including the chief of infamous ‘Arif Bahini’, were killed in a reported gunfight between their cohorts and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) at Jongrar Canal of Sundarbans in Mongla Upazila on Monday.

The deceased were identified as Sohel Howlader, 30, and Md Rubel Howlader, 27, sons of Altaf Howlader, Md Raju, 24, son of Afzal Hossain and Md Halim Howlader, 31, son of Alawal Howlader, all of them, residents of Namarchar village in Mongla upazila.

Tipped off, a RAB-8 team conducted a drive in Chandpai range of Sundarbans East zone at noon, said RAB Director (legal and media wing) Mufti Mahmud Khan. Members of ‘Arif Bahini’ opened fire as soon as the elite force reached the spot, triggering a skirmish.

At one stage, RAB recovered four bullet-hit bodies and some firearms from the spot.

When contacted, Pankaj Chandra Roy, superintendent of Bagerhat police, told UNB at 3:30pm he was unaware about the incident.